CSOs Demand Action Against Agency Chiefs Over Tinubu Coalition

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) have called for action against serving heads of federal government agencies and parastatals allegedly involved in political mobilisation for President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

The organisations raised concern that the reported involvement of serving chief executives in partisan political activities could undermine the neutrality of public institutions and create potential conflicts of interest.

CISLAC, the Transparency International chapter in Nigeria, said reports that the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of Federal Government Agencies and Parastatals had pledged to mobilise 10 million votes for Tinubu raised serious questions about the use of public institutions for partisan political activities.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend in Abuja, CISLAC executive director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said political corruption should not be viewed only from the perspective of the diversion or theft of public funds.

He said the abuse of entrusted public authority, government programmes, institutional influence and official resources for partisan advantage could also constitute political corruption.

According to him, chief executives of government agencies exercise control over public funds, personnel, contracts, programmes, regulatory powers and institutional networks that are entrusted to them for public service.

Rafsanjani said such resources should not be converted into political assets for any incumbent administration, candidate or political party.

He, however, acknowledged that appointment to public office does not automatically deprive citizens of their constitutional rights to freedom of association and political participation.

He stressed that such rights must be exercised within the legal and ethical responsibilities attached to public office.

CISLAC cited Section 99(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said prohibits the use of state apparatus to advantage or disadvantage a political party or candidate, as well as applicable Public Service Rules governing partisan political activity.

The organisation warned that serving agency heads should not use public funds, official vehicles, government offices, staff time, databases, beneficiary lists, contractors, procurement relationships, communication platforms, employment opportunities or government programmes for electoral campaigning.

CISLAC called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to issue a clear warning to heads of ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals against the partisan use of public institutions and resources.

It also urged the relevant authorities to investigate credible allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, diversion of public resources or improper use of institutional authority.

The organisation said any chief executive found, after proper investigation and due process, to have deployed agency resources or official powers for campaign purposes should face sanctions provided by law.

Such sanctions, it said, could include disciplinary or administrative measures and prosecution where a criminal offence is established.

CISLAC further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enforce the Electoral Act and investigate credible evidence of the misuse of state apparatus.

It also urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a government-wide directive clearly separating official responsibilities from partisan political mobilisation.

Meanwhile, HURIWA called on President Tinubu to remove from office any serving head of a federal agency who actively engages in partisan campaigning while retaining their government appointment.

In a statement issued in Abuja by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA said reports that serving directors-general and chief executives of federal agencies were seeking roles in the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign structure raised concerns about conflicts of interest and the politicisation of public institutions.

The group also referred to the reported pledge by the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals to mobilise 10 million votes for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

HURIWA argued that officials appointed to manage government institutions should concentrate on their statutory responsibilities rather than participate simultaneously in partisan campaign structures.

The association warned that active political mobilisation by serving agency heads could create conflicts of interest, particularly where such officials have access to public funds, government networks, personnel, institutional databases and other resources.

It urged the Presidency to ensure that federal government agencies were not turned into extensions of the APC campaign machinery.

HURIWA further argued that officials who wish to participate actively in partisan politics should first relinquish their government appointments rather than combine political campaigning with the management of public institutions.

The group also expressed concern over reports of a proposed complementary campaign structure allegedly being promoted by agency chiefs, with responsibilities reportedly covering grassroots mobilisation, media management, election planning and monitoring.

According to HURIWA, such activities could further blur the distinction between government administration and partisan political campaigns.

Both organisations called for a clear separation between the administration of public institutions and electoral politics ahead of the 2027 elections.

CISLAC stressed that public officials may have political rights, but public institutions should remain politically neutral and focused on serving Nigerians regardless of their political affiliations.

HURIWA similarly urged the Presidency to protect the neutrality and integrity of federal institutions and ensure that serving agency heads comply with applicable rules governing public office and political activity.